Top Teachers
Saturday, August 29, 1998
Name: Gregory Van Cantfort
Age: 36
Position: Social studies teacher, Kalani High School
Education: Chaminade University
Pastimes: Traveling
Brother Elmer Dunsky, professor emeritus at Chaminade University, taught Kalani High schoolteacher Gregory Van Cantfort something he'd never forget. A teacher and a leader
"If you don't go home tired at the end of the school day, you didn't do your job," said Van Cantfort, who took his first education course from Dunsky more than 15 years ago.
"That was one thing that stuck out in my mind, and it's true," he said.
Van Cantfort is one of three Hawaii teachers who recently won the Distinguished Alumni Award from Chaminade University. A 1988 Chaminade graduate in education, he has been teaching social studies at Kalani High for nearly 10 years.
"We're really proud of him," Principal Randi Porras-Tang said. "He's really grown as a teacher and a leader. When you work with teachers for a long time, you can really see the growth in them.
Van Cantfort is head coach for the girl's varsity soccer team, adviser for Mock Trial, faculty representative for the Hawaii State Teachers Association, and a member of the faculty leadership team, responsible for implementing the school's improvement plan. He was also an adviser for the classes of 1995 and 1997.
"He's just a good example of good teachers we have at Kalani who are willing to go beyond the call of duty to help the kids," Porras-Tang said. "If you need something, call Greg. He'll do it."
Shirley Iida, Star-Bulletin
